UNITAR, in cooperation with OECD, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), and the Secretariat of the Kiev Protocol on PRTRs, has supported developing and industrializing countries in exploring the feasibility of introducing PRTRs as an effective environmental management tool. UNITAR is fostering knowledge exchange in a number of ways: publishing guidance documents, such as this one; and providing training and technical expert support for countries considering or developing new PRTRs.

To further support PRTR systems in industrializing and developing countries, UNITAR continues to update its guidance series on PRTR design and implementation. The guidance series is comprised of one main Guidance Document on PRTRs Design and Implementation and seven supporting documents to provide a suggested step-wise approach for undertaking the design of a national PRTR system. The updated version of the UNITAR Guidance Series draws on the lessons learned and experiences from the more than 70 countries that have implemented or are developing a PRTR.